Heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems consist of many mechanical, electrical and electronic components such as motors, compressors, pumps, fans, ducts, pipes, thermostats and switches. Technicians must be able to maintain, diagnose and correct problems throughout the entire system.
Although they are trained to do both, technicians often specialize in either installation or maintenance and repair. Some specialize in one type of equipment — for example, oil burners, solar panels or commercial refrigerators. Technicians may work for large or small contracting companies or directly for a manufacturer or wholesaler. Those working for smaller operations tend to do both installation and servicing and work with heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment.
To be successful in this industry, you should be:
- A problem solver willing to look at all angles of a problem and possible solutions
- Mechanically inclined and enjoy working with your hands
- Open to learning new ways and techniques of working
- Able to get through long days of standing, lifting and working outdoors in all kinds of weather
- Willing to work with a wide variety of people to provide customer and employer satisfaction
- Knowledgeable about a wide variety of mechanical, design and engineering applications
- Physically adept at bending, lifting and moving equipment, with good manual dexterity
- Able to reason inductively, that is to combine pieces of information to form general conclusions as to what is wrong with the equipment you’re working on
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Salaries and Job Outlook
According to America’s Career Infonet, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers made a median hourly wage of $18.11 — an annual salary of $37,700. The top 10 percent of wage earners in that job category made $28.57 per hour, or $59,400 per year. Job openings in the field are expected to grow about 9 percent through the year 2014.
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-2009 edition) gives detailed information about the skills, abilities, work activities and recommended education for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers.